The Geometry of Shadows
Reviewed by Lady Keela Shanri
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This episode, despite a few very serious moments, was, overall, an absolute HOOT. It had many good things going for it. Humour, dark foreshadowing, character and culture development, and some GREAT acting, most noticeably by Peter Jurasik, Stephen Furst, William Forward, Michael Ansara, and Claudia Christian. Also some changes--Ivanova is first promoted to FULL Commander in this episode, and this marks the FIRST time that the new Delenn, with HAIR, is shown in the opening credits.
As an example of those "good things", any episode that introduces--however briefly--a character as wonderful as the devious, scheming and CREEPY Lord Refa cannot possibly be all bad. William Forward gave a great (although short) performance in a deliciously "I, Claudius"-esque scene in the teaser. Refa (the only other Centauri I've seen yet with Londo's accent) and Mollari casually discuss plans to grab the throne once the current Emperor, who is old and weak, vacates it--and possibly even consider MAKING him vacate it earlier than planned? We also learn from this scene that while NO-ONE can tell HOW Londo "handled" the problem of the Narn outpost in Quadrant 37, they are all very grateful and very impressed. They also think that he has his own FLEET, and Refa expects help from that fleet "when the time comes".
Considering that even Londo HIMSELF doesn't know how it happened or who's REALLY behind it, this should be interesting...
Also on the Centauri front, this episode gives Vir a chance to really shine. He bravely faces down the illusory monster in the Technomage's corridor (this is SO Tolkien...), falls over FLAT on his butt after drinking WHATEVER it was that Londo was drinking, and his rambling, on and on and on and ON explanation of whether or not he believes in fate, complete with nervous hand gestures, was HILARIOUS. These mannerisms are a trademark, as the REALLY funny scene with him and Ivanova in "Sic Transit Vir" attest. Vir doesn't have an ACCENT--but he DOES, however, have his own distinctive way of talking. This episode shows that beautifully.
Elric the Technomage: "You don't frighten easily, do you?"
Vir: "I work for Ambassador Mollari. After a while, nothing bothers me anymore."
Speaking of Ivanova--this was more or less HER episode. First of all, you have to realise--that broken foot was NOT fake. I don't know the specifics, as in, how did she break it, but Claudia Christian REALLY WAS hobbling around on a REAL broken foot for the entire episode, practically living on painkillers. INCLUDING in the scenes BEFORE she "broke" it in the story. In other words, she was walking around on a broken foot with NO cast, and NO crutches during that whole council chamber scene, for one! Can we say, "trouper", boys, girls, and hermaphrodites? I knew you could.
It had to be written into the episode, and rather than mess up their filming schedule, she just went ahead and did it!
She also turned in a creditable acting performance, and her solution to the Drazi problem was very creative and funny. "And I'm sure that any of you who don't get thrown into the brig for assaulting an EarthForce officer will look absolutely GORGEOUS in purple!" That's STUNNING in purple, Ivanova, but at least you've picked the correct colour...
(As a side note, speaking of people who are "stunning in purple", did anyone else notice that Londo was wearing both purple AND green through the entire episode? Purple coat, green vest, I'm NOT kidding you, go play your tape back and take just one look at him! The wardrobe people obviously have a sick sense of humour...)
This episode also told us quite a bit about Drazi customs. Until now, the Drazi were just "those pug-ugly scaley dudes" in the background; this episode gave them an identity and colour--well, TWO colours actually--of their own. And that identity is--that they are a bunch of MORONS! They fight to the death over absolutely nothing, pick their sides completely at random, and will obey, blindly, ANYONE who is wearing the sash of their side's leader--even if they're not Drazi! "Change in rules...held up in committee" says the former Green Drazi leader sheepishly after Ivanova yanks his sash off his neck. They are stupid--but at least it's funny, and after this, I don't think any regular watcher of B5 will have the slightest bit of difficulty remembering who the Drazi are.
I would also like to say at this point that Kim Strauss did a GREAT job of acting through that very heavy makeup as the Green Drazi leader. He was FUNNY as heck, with all the embarrassed grins and little hesitations.
And speaking of funny...what about the Technomage's revenge on Londo? A "holo-demon" takes over his computer, eating away his files and mangling his records with images of fire and destruction while playing "that SOUND! That AWFUL, HIDEOUS, SOUND!"--Narn opera! He now owns 200,000 shares in a Spoo ranch, and 500,000 shares of "Fireflies Incorporated", then they turn off his power, put little demons on his back when he goes to apologise, and did SOMETHING to his quarters that will evidently make them smell for days. "Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards" indeed!
And now for the Technomages themselves. They are just a tad too pretentious for my tastes, but overall they were fairly cool. We also learn that the Technomages are clearing out because of a "great storm coming"--yet another great bit of dark foreshadowing, and I mean "foreSHADOWing", if you get my drift. Michael Ansara, whom classic Trekkers should know as the Klingon commander Kang, did a wonderfully ominous and enigmatic performance as Elric, the main Technomage, but not without a sense of humour. And his "recommendation" to Londo has got to be one of the most haunting pieces of dialogue of the entire series:
Elric: "I see a great hand reaching down out of the stars. It is your hand, and I hear voices...billions of voices, crying out your name."
Londo: "My followers?"
Elric: "Your victims."
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